There is a media push right now encouraging people to stay at the scene of an automobile accident. Florida has over ninety thousand hit and runs, many involving death. The problem is, that if you are reading this blog, it is probably too late. The simple fact is, people sometimes, after an accident, freak out and leave. It may be because their license is suspended. It may be because they were drinking and are afraid of a DUI. It may be because they don’t have insurance or are driving someone else’s car. It may be because they are on probation for something else or because they have alcohol or drugs in their system. The Florida Highway patrol often runs ads encouraging you to come forward and “turn yourself in”. This is particularly true when there is a death. Confession may be good for the soul but it can land your body in State prison. Even if the guilt is eating you up, talk to a good experienced criminal defense lawyer first. Sadly, many Hispanic people because of our immigration laws have not been able to get a driver’s license. They may have been driving without a license. They may be afraid of remaining at the scene of an accident fearing deportation. If your license was suspended or you did not have a license, and you fled or left the scene, talk to us before turning yourself in. Under our criminal justice system, you have a right to remain silent.
If you live in Ft. Myers or Cape Coral and need to speak with a Spanish speaking lawyer, call and ask for Bob Foley. Bob, one of the partners, is a former FBI agent and he speaks fluent Spanish. We have offices both in Ft. Myers and in the Cape.

Under the guise of stopping crime, the police are actually creating a crime. Prostitution is the world’s oldest profession. In most of the advanced civilized countries, it is legal. Here in Florida it is not. The police routinely run “Sex stings” where undercover detectives pose as women offering sex for money. The stings are basically two types. On the one hand, many of the municipalities will have undercover female officers walking the street, winking, waving and flirting with passing motorists. When a prospective “john” stops, they engage them with sexual innuendo and try and entice the many to offer money. This ends in an arrest, public embarrassment, a prosecution and a statistic for the police department.

The other type of “sex sting” involves the Internet. The “pimp” like you used to see in the movies has been replaced by a computer or a smart phone. Women routinely offer sex on “Craigslist Casual Encounters” or sites like Backpage.com. These are not poor victimized women, the victims of human trafficking. They mostly are women who have made a conscious choice to engage in sex for money. That has been happening for all of time. When the police run an Internet prostitution sting, the police will post an ad, an absolute solicitation for sex in exchange for money. When the man responds, he is invited, usually to a hotel, where he is arrested. The truth is, it is the police that are soliciting for prostitution, not the man. The man is merely accepting the solicitation of the undercover detective. This is an enormous waste of law enforcement resources. The police create a crime that would not have otherwise happened.These arrests ruin lives. This makes no sense whatsoever

The answer is to legalize prostitution. It already is in some places here in the United States. What is the difference between a man wining and dining a woman, spending money on her, making a bunch of false promises about affection or feelings or simply paying her for sex. Prostitution is one of the most honest relationships a man and woman can have. The woman wants his money and the man wants sex. In that situation, no one is victimizing anyone. It is truly a victimless crime, unless one of them is a cop. Then they make it a crime and ruin lives.

Legalizing prostitution would eliminate human trafficking. If prostitution was legal, if you could go to a safe place, pay money and have safe sex, who would take a chance with some illegal hooker or brothel. If prostitution was legal, if it was regulated, the women would have health exams, there would not be street hookers (most of whom have aids or are drug addicts) and it would be safe. Men have been paying for sex (one way or another) for all of human history. It is part of evolution. Studies have shown that female chimpanzees will grant sexual favors for fruit and protection. Many professionals, many people who have time consuming careers, many people who are workaholics, simply don’t have time, or want, a permanent relationship. Sexual needs and desires are hardwired into our very beings. Sex is a natural instinct that when denied, creates social issues. Legalizing prostitution would cut down on real sex crimes like rape or child molestation. Legalizing prostitution would actually reduce crime. The truth, which no one wants to hear, or acknowledge, is that it is the police that are doing the soliciting. It is the police that are creating a crime. It is the police that are enforcing an archaic and unfair law.
Don’t fall for the hype and press reposts…..Contact your legislator now….Legalize prostitution

Ft Myers DUI-DWI Attorneys

If you find yourself in that situation, it can get worse. Having a good lawyer can make a huge difference in the outcome. Some people, even though they can afford to hire their own attorney allow themselves to be represented by the Public Defender, simply to save money. Losing your driver’s license can cost you your job. It will affect your insurance rates and possibly keep you from even getting insurance. If you are in the United States illegally, you may find yourself in trouble with ICE. If you have a prior DUI, or if you are driving with no license, or worse yet, driving on a suspended license, you may be looking at doing time in jail. Now is not the time to be looking for a free lawyer or the cheapest lawyer you can find.

Would you want to jump out of an airplane with a free, or the cheapest parachute you could find?

Not all criminal defense lawyers are the same. If you have a serious illness, would you rather find your own experienced doctor, or go to the public health clinic.

Finding a good lawyer is a lot like finding a good mechanic or a good doctor. There is a difference between being good at advertising and being good in the courtroom. At our law firm, we are all former prosecutors. We have done this for the other side, we know the way prosecutors think and we know the way they approach cases. The truth is, most cases are resolved through negotiations and plea deals. The truth is that getting a good deal is no accident. The prosecutor has to know that there is a real chance he will lose the case. Good deals come from negotiating from a position of strength, not weakness. If you have the public defender, chances are, you may never even meet with him until the day of court.

Now is not the time to try and save money.

We do not charge for a free consultation. Bob Foley is fluent in Spanish, and if you speak only Spanish, being able to communicate with your lawyer in your native language is important. In Lee County, we have offices Ft. Myers and in Cape Coral. We also have offices in Punta Gorda and Sarasota if you live further north. Sean O’Halloran formerly prosecuted both in Lee and Charlotte County. Peter Aiken was a former Federal prosecutor and all three have decades of experience in the criminal justice system. In choosing a lawyer, do your homework. Read more about our individual qualifications by clicking on the attorney tabs.

Call for a free consultation in Ft. Myers, the Cape, Punta Gorda or Sarasota

I am a trial attorney and recently joined as partner with Peter Aiken and Sean O’Halloran to proudly team-up with these two established, experienced and well-respected attorneys to bring additional firepower to their already formidable criminal defense practice.
I enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves as an infantryman when I was 17, and while serving, I studied Sociology and Criminal Justice at Rhode Island College. I became a commissioned officer while in the Reserves, and after graduating with a Bachelor in Arts in 1986, I served on active duty with the Army. My first stop was to Flight School in Fort Rucker, Alabama. I graduated Flight School in 1987 and was assigned to fly the (then) border between East and West Germany. I served in West Germany for three years, and upon being promoted to Captain, I was reassigned back to Fort Rucker as an Instructor Pilot where I taught prospective aviators basic and advanced combat flying skills and night and night vision goggle emergency flying procedures. During my time in the Army I was an Aviator, Paratrooper and I was Air Assault qualified. I was awarded an Overseas Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (Persian Gulf), two Army Commendation Medals, and a Meritorious Service Medal. I completed my military service in 1992.
In 1990, I received a Master of Science in Business Administration from Boston University. In 1992, I began my legal studies at New England Law/Boston. I graduated from law school and became a member of the Massachusetts Bar in 1995.
In 1996 I became an FBI Special Agent. After graduating from the FBI Academy, I served in Bridgeport, Connecticut; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tucson and Yuma, Arizona; Louisville, Kentucky; Detroit, Michigan; Washington D.C. and Fort Myers, Florida. During my 20-year career with the FBI, I investigated drug trafficking organizations, violent gangs, white collar criminals, corrupt public officials and terrorists. I served in a variety of investigative and management positions including as an attorney in the FBI’s Office of General Counsel, Special Agent in Charge at the Washington Field Office and Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office. While the Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Office, an assignment I consider the highlight of my career, I led over 600 Special Agents, Intelligence Analysts, Task Force Officers and support staff in the conduct of all FBI counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cyber, and criminal investigations within the State of Michigan. I was responsible as Chief Executive and final authority for all operational, legal, compliance, HR, audit, financial, facilities and logistical matters for the Detroit headquarters’ field office and its 11 sub-offices.
As an FBI Special Agent, I have been the case agent on numerous investigations involving violent gangs, drug trafficking, police corruption and complex white-collar cases. In Bridgeport Connecticut, I led a multi- jurisdictional Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) in a long-term wire-tap case resulting in the federal conviction of 21 drug traffickers. In San Juan, Puerto Rico I was a case agent on a year-long police corruption undercover investigation entitled “Operacion Honor Perdido” (Operation Lost Honor) resulting in the federal conviction of 29 police officers for cocaine trafficking. As the Special Agent in Charge in Detroit, I supervised high profile corruption cases including a case against the Mayor of Detroit and a case against a Michigan Supreme Court Justice. Both were convicted. In Fort Myers, Florida, I teamed-up with the Commodities and Futures Trade Commission and targeted a wealth management company for securities violations. The principal of that company was convicted of fraud and received a 6 year federal sentence.
In addition, while with the FBI, I held a number of collateral positions including as a police instructor, teaching corruption investigative techniques in Budapest and Bangkok; I was a member of the FBI SWAT Team; I served as an FBI firearms instructor; and, I was an FBI fixed-wing surveillance pilot and tactical helicopter pilot. During my career, I utilized virtually all of the sophisticated investigative techniques available, including infiltrating informants, high risk search warrants, drug-buys and reverses, wire-taps, under-cover operations, and complex forensic accounting. In my capacity as an Special Agent Attorney and legal advisor, I have served on the FBI Headquarters Criminal Undercover Operations Committee, the FBI’s Shooting Review Group, FBI Compliance Inspection Teams and I served as legal counsel to the FBI Headquarters Asset and Informant Unit. I proudly retired from the FBI in 2016.
As an FBI Special Agent for 20 years, I learned how to piece together complex criminal cases. I presented a countless number of these cases to Federal Prosecutors and 100% of the cases indicted resulted in a conviction. I bring this skill to your defense. Because I can engineer a case, I know how to reverse engineer one. I know where to look, what to focus on, common issues and problems, and how to identify flaws, weaknesses and holes. In addition, I was a state prosecutor. I worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the 20th Judicial Circuit. There, I honed my trial skills. I know how cases are tried and consequently, defended. My experience as an FBI Agent and as an Assistant State Attorney provides me, as your defense attorney, with a combination of skills you will not find anywhere else.
Degrees:
• BA, Rhode Island College
• MBA, Boston University
• JD, New England Law/Boston

Bar Certifications:
• Massachusetts
• Florida
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• United States Supreme Court